The keen blade of a Sword, made of Damascus steel, which had been thrown aside on a heap of old iron, was sent to market with the other pieces of metal, and sold for a trifle to a Moujik. Now, a Moujik's ideas move in a narrow circle. He immediately set to work to turn the blade to account. Our Moujik fitted a handle to the blade, and began to strip lime-trees in the forest with it, of the bark he wanted for shoes, while at home he unceremoniously splintered fir chips with it. Sometimes, also, he would lop off
twigs1 with it, or small branches for mending his wattled fences, or would shape stakes with it for his garden paling. And the result was that, before the year was out, our blade was
notched2 and
rusted3 from one end to the other, and the children used to ride astride of it. So one day a Hedgehog, which was lying under a bench in the cottage, close by the spot where the blade had been flung, said to it:
"Tell me, what do you think of this life of yours? If there is any truth in all the fine things that are said about Damascus steel, you surely must be ashamed of having to splinter fir chips, and square stakes, and of being turned, at last, into a plaything for children."
But the Sword-blade replied:
"In the hands of a
warrior4, I should have been a terror to the
foe5; but here my special
faculties6 are of no avail. So in this house I am turned to base uses only. But am I free to choose my employment? No, not I, but he, ought to be ashamed who could not see for what I was fit to be employed."
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1
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) |
参考例句： |
- Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
- Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。
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2
notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 |
参考例句： |
- Torino notched up a 2-1 win at Lazio. 都灵队以2 比1 赢了拉齐奧队。
- He notched up ten points in the first five minutes of the game. 他在比赛开始后的五分钟里得了十分。
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3
rusted
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| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- I can't get these screws out; they've rusted in. 我无法取出这些螺丝，它们都锈住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- My bike has rusted and needs oil. 我的自行车生锈了，需要上油。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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4
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 |
参考例句： |
- The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
- A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。
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5
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 |
参考例句： |
- He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
- A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。
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6
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 |
参考例句： |
- Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬，但头脑仍然清晰。
- All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中，你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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